When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog

When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog is the debut studio album by Swedish indie pop musician Jens Lekman. His first full-length, the album was released on 7 April 2004 on Service,[7] and later in the year was also released on Secretly Canadian with a slightly altered track listing.

When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog
Studio album by Jens Lekman
Released	7 April 2004
Recorded	2000–2004
Genre	Indie pop
Length	45:16 (Service release) 41:17 (Secretly Canadian release)
Label	Service Secretly Canadian
Jens Lekman chronology
When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog (2004) Oh You're So Silent Jens (2005)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Boston Phoenix	[2]
Pitchfork	7.0/10[3]
Stylus Magazine	A[4]
Uncut	[5]
Vice	B+[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jens Lekman.

Service release

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tram No. 7 to Heaven"	3:06
2.	"Do You Remember the Riots?"	2:30
3.	"You Are the Light (By Which I Travel into This and That)"	3:23
4.	"If You Ever Need a Stranger (To Sing at Your Wedding)"	3:21
5.	"Maple Leaves"	3:59
6.	"Silvia"	4:56
7.	"The Cold Swedish Winter"	3:49
8.	"Julie"	2:52
9.	"Happy Birthday, Dear Friend Lisa"	3:31
10.	"Psychogirl"	5:28
11.	"When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog"	4:38
12.	"A Higher Power"	3:43
Total length:		45:16

Secretly Canadian release

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tram No. 7 to Heaven"	3:06
2.	"Happy Birthday, Dear Friend Lisa"	3:31
3.	"Do You Remember the Riots?"	2:30
4.	"You Are the Light (By Which I Travel into This and That)"	3:23
5.	"If You Ever Need a Stranger (To Sing at Your Wedding)"	3:21
6.	"Silvia"	4:56
7.	"The Cold Swedish Winter"	3:49
8.	"Julie"	2:52
9.	"Psychogirl"	5:28
10.	"When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog"	4:38
11.	"A Higher Power"	3:43
Total length:		41:17

Sample credits[8]

• "A Higher Power" contains samples of "So Catch Him" by Blueboy and "Words Don't Fail Me Now" by The Night Keys.

Personnel

Credits for When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog adapted from liner notes.[8]

• Jens Lekman – writing, performance, recording, horn arrangements

Additional personnel

Björn Almgren – saxophone Emma Bates – backing vocals Marcus Cato – trumpet Lars-Erik Grimelund – drums Ellen Hjalmarsson – violin Peter Noos Johansson – trombone Ulrika Mild – backing vocals

Lilian Olsson – backing vocals Mikaela Robsahm – cello Stefan Sporsén – trumpet, althorn, horn arrangements Jacob Stålhammar – mastering Johan Strömberg – recording (horns and drums) Ben Swanson – drums

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[9]	6

References

1. Sendra, Tim. "When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog – Jens Lekman". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
2. Donnelly, Elisabeth (11–17 February 2005). "Jens Lekman: When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog (Secretly Canadian)". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
3. Loftus, Johnny (21 September 2004). "Jens Lekman: When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
4. Mathers, Ian (5 October 2004). "Jens Lekman – When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog – Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 November 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
5. "Jens Lekman – "When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog"". Uncut (90): 108. November 2004. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
6. Christgau, Robert (18 February 2017). "An Incorrigibly Courteous Liar's Last Act: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau". Vice. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
7. "Collections". JensLekman.com. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
8. When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog (liner notes). Lekman, Jens. Service. 2004. SERV015.CS1 maint: others (link)
9. "Swedishcharts.com – Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 February 2017.